Uptick in Orionid Meteors This Year?

According to M. Sato and J. I. Watanabe (2007, PASJ 59, L21) the strong Orionid meteor activity of 2006-2008 may be repeated this year. The increased activity present in 2006-2008 is apparently due to dust trails from comet 1P/Halley, ejected in 1400BC and 11BC. The orbits of these meteoroids are affected by the 1:5 and 1:8 mean-motion resonances with the planet Jupiter. This resonance effect essentially herds the debris into filaments, and the filament responsible for the increased activity in 2006-08 is expected to lie in Earth's path again around October 18-24 this year. With the moon out of the way this week, meteor watchers should be treated to higher than average counts and bright meteors.